Jim Beshires is the founder and president of the Old Time Radio Researchers organization, easily the finest OTR group around, in my opinion.
Jim is one of the nicest people I have met in the OTR hobby. He lives close to me and I find him to be just like a friendly neighbor, even though I have never met him in person.
He and I have formed a friendship and he has been kind enough to answer some questions (via audio) in what can only be called a very unique interview.
This interview focuses on one of Jim's favorite subjects, the Western. He's consented to do other interviews like this in the future and so I'm sure he won't be a stranger to you on this blog anymore.
OTR BUFFET: Jim, thank you for joining me and doing the interview. I am glad we could finally do this interview, albeit it will be in a most unconvential way.
Jim Beshire's answer::
OTR BUFFET: I know that Westerns are one of your favorite type of old-time radio programs. Could you tell us about when you first began listening to Westerns and which shows?
Jim Beshire's answer::
OTR BUFFET: Let's start with Gunsmoke. It seems that Gunsmoke is the King of Westerns by default - even though there are many good radio Westerns. Tell me what you think of when you think of Gunsmoke?
Jim Beshire's answer::
OTR BUFFET: Gunsmoke had adult themes and really wasn't meant for children but you know children listened to it. Did you listen to it during the series run?
Jim Beshire's answer::
OTR BUFFET: Between Parley Baer as Chester and Howard McNear as Doc, which character did you like better and which actor do you think was a better one (throughout their radio careers) Baer or McNear?
Jim Beshire's answer::
OTR BUFFET: Are there any episodes that stand out for you as being special Gunsmoke episodes?
Jim Beshire's answer::
OTR BUFFET: How would you rate the Gunsmoke radio series against the TV series?
Jim Beshire's answer::
OTR BUFFET: Moving on to Have Gun, Will Travel. What is your opinion of John Dehner as a radio actor?
Jim Beshire's answer::
OTR BUFFET: Compare Dehner to William Conrad...
Jim Beshire's answer::
OTR BUFFET: Luke Slaughter of Tombstone is an underrated show. What are your thoughts on the show in general?
Jim Beshire's answer::
OTR BUFFET: There are the so-called "Kiddie Westerns." Would you talk about your favorite ones?
Jim Beshire's answer::
OTR BUFFET: Jim, thank you so much for doing this interview with me. I truly learned a lot and enjoyed your answers. I promise you, when we get together again to do another interview, it will be about science fiction!
Jim Beshire::
©Jimbo 2010/2011
Showing posts with label kiddie Westerns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kiddie Westerns. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
1950's trauma: Shocked by radio Westerns
The 1950's (and in particular, the years of 1955 on) saw a tide of Westerns sweep over radio at an enormous rate.
These weren't the Westerns folks were used to listening to. In the 1930's and '40's, radio was ripe with such easy-going kid fare as The Lone Ranger, The Cisco Kid, Hopalong Cassidy, Sgt. Preston and the Challenge of the Yukon plus a whole mini-genre of happy-as-all-get-out singing cowboys like Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and Gene Autry.
Any title or name in the above paragraph bears the fruit of complete trust that you'd have in letting your child listen to those particular programs. There would be no suggestion of sex of any kind (and probably no kissing either.) There might be some shooting, but rest assured, The Lone Ranger and Roy Rogers were always aiming for the outlaw's hand. Why, Sgt. Preston rarely ever used a gun at all; he more often than not allowed his trusty dog to rip the flesh from the bones of frigid criminals (and radio dogs inflicting bodily damage seemingly has no effect on listening audiences of any age!)
And then you had the simple Western, such as The Six-Shooter, where Brit Ponsit was an ex-gunslinger (but a good guy) whose aim at life was to visit friends and neighbors each week. Unless really provoked, the only damage he wanted to do was to consume a whole pan of cornbread. Played by the almost milquetoast (or at the very least, quiet and empathetic) Jimmy Stewart, violence was the last thing on the mind of the listener. The Six Shooter is a calm -almost sad- show; after all the show's main theme music is slow and yes, sad.
Then when 'the wave' hit, it must has greatly shocked those radio listeners, especially those who did not have television or rarely went to see films at their local theaters.
Gunsmoke, for instance, revolved around Matt Dillon, easily one of the toughest radio characters ever. He didn't want to have to shoot someone. He would rather mangle someone with his hands and did so often, incorporating thoughts of bloody body parts everywhere in the radio listener's mind.
Not only that but Dillon was not married. His favorite hangout was the Long Branch Saloon and the writers, directors and actors made no bones about it: the iniquity den was loaded with prostitutes (it attracted the cattlemen who had just got paid.) And to top it all off (no pun intended) Dillon had a girl at the saloon who wanted him to marry her (Kitty.)
While no one came right out in the open and said, "Kitty is a prostitute and Matt probably doesn't have to pay" - you certainly get that idea while listening to the show. And somewhere, Roy Rogers was probably freaking out over this.
There exists, somewhere (because I used to have it) some audio clips of Matt and Kitty [in character] "having sex" in a squeaky bed - I kid you not.) But I can't seem to find them anywhere now.
In the beginning weeks of Gunsmoke, Doc's character was potrayed as being a greedy businessman who attended to burials rather than the cheerful, sympathetic doctor of Dodge City.
And Gunsmoke was just one show. Have Gun Will Travel was clearly about a hired gun name Paladin. Generally, he would rather not kill. But then again, he did so often - and got paid for it.
Other shows like Luke Slaughter of Tombstone, Frontier Town and even Frontier Gentleman are vivid with all sorts of people getting killed (Luke Slaughter's last name isn't that by accident) including pseudo-genocidal cleansing of Indians from America's Western breach.
John Dehner as the Frontier Gentleman was a vicious bare-knuckled fighter and I don't ever recall losing at fisticuffs.
So when the tide came, there must have been some sort of cultural trauma, because it all happened at once.
These weren't the Westerns folks were used to listening to. In the 1930's and '40's, radio was ripe with such easy-going kid fare as The Lone Ranger, The Cisco Kid, Hopalong Cassidy, Sgt. Preston and the Challenge of the Yukon plus a whole mini-genre of happy-as-all-get-out singing cowboys like Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and Gene Autry.
Any title or name in the above paragraph bears the fruit of complete trust that you'd have in letting your child listen to those particular programs. There would be no suggestion of sex of any kind (and probably no kissing either.) There might be some shooting, but rest assured, The Lone Ranger and Roy Rogers were always aiming for the outlaw's hand. Why, Sgt. Preston rarely ever used a gun at all; he more often than not allowed his trusty dog to rip the flesh from the bones of frigid criminals (and radio dogs inflicting bodily damage seemingly has no effect on listening audiences of any age!)
And then you had the simple Western, such as The Six-Shooter, where Brit Ponsit was an ex-gunslinger (but a good guy) whose aim at life was to visit friends and neighbors each week. Unless really provoked, the only damage he wanted to do was to consume a whole pan of cornbread. Played by the almost milquetoast (or at the very least, quiet and empathetic) Jimmy Stewart, violence was the last thing on the mind of the listener. The Six Shooter is a calm -almost sad- show; after all the show's main theme music is slow and yes, sad.
Then when 'the wave' hit, it must has greatly shocked those radio listeners, especially those who did not have television or rarely went to see films at their local theaters.
Gunsmoke, for instance, revolved around Matt Dillon, easily one of the toughest radio characters ever. He didn't want to have to shoot someone. He would rather mangle someone with his hands and did so often, incorporating thoughts of bloody body parts everywhere in the radio listener's mind.
Not only that but Dillon was not married. His favorite hangout was the Long Branch Saloon and the writers, directors and actors made no bones about it: the iniquity den was loaded with prostitutes (it attracted the cattlemen who had just got paid.) And to top it all off (no pun intended) Dillon had a girl at the saloon who wanted him to marry her (Kitty.)
While no one came right out in the open and said, "Kitty is a prostitute and Matt probably doesn't have to pay" - you certainly get that idea while listening to the show. And somewhere, Roy Rogers was probably freaking out over this.
There exists, somewhere (because I used to have it) some audio clips of Matt and Kitty [in character] "having sex" in a squeaky bed - I kid you not.) But I can't seem to find them anywhere now.
In the beginning weeks of Gunsmoke, Doc's character was potrayed as being a greedy businessman who attended to burials rather than the cheerful, sympathetic doctor of Dodge City.
And Gunsmoke was just one show. Have Gun Will Travel was clearly about a hired gun name Paladin. Generally, he would rather not kill. But then again, he did so often - and got paid for it.
Other shows like Luke Slaughter of Tombstone, Frontier Town and even Frontier Gentleman are vivid with all sorts of people getting killed (Luke Slaughter's last name isn't that by accident) including pseudo-genocidal cleansing of Indians from America's Western breach.
John Dehner as the Frontier Gentleman was a vicious bare-knuckled fighter and I don't ever recall losing at fisticuffs.
So when the tide came, there must have been some sort of cultural trauma, because it all happened at once.
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